Instagram is set to launch a new initiative aimed at bolstering privacy and safety measures for its teenage users. The social media platform, owned by Meta, will begin automatically placing teens into "teen accounts" with built-in restrictions and enhanced parental controls.

Naomi Gleit, head of product at Meta, explained the rationale behind the move: "Everyone under 18, creators included, will be put into teen accounts," she told NBC News. "They can remain public if their parent is involved and gives them permission and is supervising the account. But these are pretty big changes that we need to get right."

The new accounts will limit messaging, tagging, and mentions to only those individuals the teen already follows. This represents Meta's most significant effort to date in managing how minors interact with the platform.

The initiative comes in the wake of recent controversies surrounding child safety on social media platforms. In January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued an apology to parents during a Senate hearing on online child safety, where some testified that Instagram had contributed to their children's suicides or exploitation.

While Meta has previously introduced various opt-in restrictions for teen users, including parental supervision controls, their application has been inconsistent. Gleit acknowledged the feedback received from parents, citing simplicity, consistency, and increased control as key areas of focus for this launch.

The rollout of teen accounts will be gradual. New users under 18 will be automatically placed into these accounts upon sign-up, but existing teen users may not see immediate changes. According to Meta, many users worldwide won't be transitioned to teen accounts until next year.

Teen accounts will also feature the most restrictive content settings, limiting potentially sensitive material from unfollowed accounts. The Hidden Words feature will be activated by default, automatically filtering offensive words or phrases from comments and direct messages.

Users under 16 will require parental or guardian permission to modify their teen account settings, while those over 16 can adjust settings independently unless their accounts are linked to parental supervision.

Anticipating attempts to circumvent these measures, Meta plans to implement various age verification methods. These include requesting government IDs or video selfies when users attempt to create new accounts on the same device. The company is also developing AI technology to predict whether users claiming to be adults might actually be teens, based on behavioral signals such as account creation date, content interactions, and writing style.

Gleit declined to provide detailed information about this technology, citing concerns that teens might learn to bypass detection tools. The age prediction tools are scheduled for testing in the US early next year.

For parents utilizing supervision controls, new features will allow them to view their teens' messaging contacts – without reading the actual conversations – and see topics of interest selected by their teens for the Explore page.

Additional features include a "Sleep Mode" replacing the existing Quiet Mode and Night Nudges, which will silence notifications from 10 pm to 7 am. Teen accounts will also receive "Daily Limit" prompts encouraging app closure after 60 minutes of use.

To prevent misuse of parental controls, Meta will implement restrictions on teen account supervision and limit the number of teen accounts one person can oversee.

Gleit emphasized the company's approach: "We think parents know their teens best, and so I don't think that all of those controls are necessarily right for everyone, but we want to give parents the options to choose what's right for their child."

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Turkey has blocked access to Instagram for several days, over the platform's decision to ban condolence messages for assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Turkish officials, including the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and the President's communications director, have accused Instagram of censorship, failure to remove offensive posts, and preventing condolence messages, stating that the platform had been warned about violations and needed to follow the nation's laws.

Instagram's decision has been criticized in Turkey as 'arbitrary' by freedom of expression advocates, while government officials have accused Meta, Instagram's parent company, of 'systematic censorship' of posts related to Haniyeh.

Turkey's authorities have called Instagram officials for meetings to resolve the issue, expressing concerns over compliance with Turkish laws and accusing the platform of censorship.

The platform has been restricted following a court order by the authorities.

Turkey's opposition parties, legal experts, and the Mayor of Istanbul have petitioned for the freeze on Instagram to be lifted.

Erdogan's government is criticized for restricting freedom of expression and has a history of temporarily blocking social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Wikipedia. It temporarily restricted Twitter access after the 2023 earthquakes.

The government has tightened its control over the internet by banning specific URLs and platforms, including social media sites, with over 40,000 URLs blocked in 2022 through government requests.

Internet freedom in Turkey has declined over the past decade, with increased censorship, and criminalization of online speech. Turkey also introduced a Disinformation Law in 2022, limiting online speech and privacy.

Turkey ranks fifth globally in Instagram usage, with around 57 million users.

Sources: Barron's, Economic Times, The Epoch Times, The New Arab, New Indian Express, Benzinga, Econotimes, Rudaw, Turkish Minute, Breaking The News, Khaleej Times, Devdiscourse, Eyewitness News, Bianet, Art Dog Istanbul.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz slams Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on X after he lashed out at social media platforms on Monday, accusing them of "digital fascism" for allegedly censoring images of Palestinian "martyrs" and condolences over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority blocked access to Instagram on August 2 without providing an explanation. Government officials stated the ban was imposed because Instagram failed to comply with Turkish regulations.

However, several media reports suggested the action was in response to Instagram removing posts by Turkish users expressing condolences over the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, July 31.

"They cannot even tolerate photographs of Palestinian martyrs and immediately ban them," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. "We are confronted with a digital fascism that is disguised as freedom. They are resorting to every means to hide Israel's cruelty and muzzle the Palestinian people's voices. Especially social media companies have literally become militants," he added.

Instagram has more than 57 million users in Turkey, a nation of 85 million people, according to the We Are Social media company. The Electronic Commerce Operators' Association estimates that Instagram and other social media platforms generate about 930 million Turkish lira ($27 million) worth of e-commerce per day.

The anti-Semitic dictator @RTErdogan attacked the US and Western countries yesterday, saying they were "taken hostage by the Zionists in Israel."

Erdoğan, the ones taken hostage are the citizens of Turkey, trapped in your dictatorship. You blocked Instagram for 57 million users… pic.twitter.com/EOgELcp2G4

— ישראל כ"ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) August 6, 2024

Katz criticized the decision to block Instagram on social media on August 2, stating it showed how Erdogan "is turning Turkey into a dictatorship just because of his support for the murderers and rapists of Hamas, against the stance of the entire free world." On August 6, Katz responded to Erdogan's antisemitic claim Western countries were "taken hostage by the Zionists in Israel" on X, "Erdogan, the ones taken hostage are the citizens of Turkey, trapped in your dictatorship. You blocked Instagram for 57 million users in your country but left access to your own Instagram account."

Erdogan, speaking at an event on human rights education hosted by his Islamist AKP political party, went on to claim that social media websites were allowing all kinds of propaganda by groups considered terrorists in Turkey.

Turkey's Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, said Turkish authorities met with Instagram representatives last week and were holding a fresh round of talks on Monday.

Unlike its Western allies, Turkey does not consider Hamas a terror organization. A strong critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza, Erdogan, who met with Haniyeh in Istanbul in April, has described Hamas as a liberation movement and repeatedly compared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.

The Turkish leader appeared to threaten to invade Israel, saying at a meeting of his political party that Turkey must be "very strong so that Israel can't do these things to the Palestinians." In early May, Erdogan halted his country's robust trade ties with Israel.

Soon after the war in Gaza began, Turkey, a NATO member, began blocking any cooperation between NATO and Israel, which holds partner status in the military alliance, Reuters reported last week.

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A viral video showing Pakistani snacks and candies with names and packaging strikingly similar to international brands garnered over 6 million views.

The video was shared by Instagram user Faisal Shah.

The video featured chocolates like Milky Balls, Ferry Rose, B&B, TikTak, Mass, and Snookers, which closely copied well-known brands like Ferrero Rocher and Mars.

Some viewers expressed interest in trying these 'local' versions. Others pointed out that these products might be made in Iran or reminisced about similar fake products from the past.

 

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A post shared by Faisal Tre Shah (@faisaltreshah)

Sources: Republic World, NDTV, News24 Online, NewsX, Free Press Journal, Hindustan Times

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Instagram has launched a new feature called "Close Friends on Live" that enables users to broadcast live videos exclusively to a curated list of close friends, fostering a more private and intimate experience.

Users can share thoughts, catch up, plan trips, or hang out in real-time with up to three additional co-hosts from their Close Friends list during these exclusive live broadcasts.

The "Close Friends" feature aims to provide a space for users to share content without judgment from a broader audience, host study sessions, collaborate on homework, or catch up with friends, enabling users to have control over their audience and connect directly with their close social circles.

Users can also make grid posts and Reels visible only to close friends, mute interactions from everyone but close friends, and add music to carousel posts with videos on the feed, allowing for a more tailored Instagram experience and limiting potential harassment for content creators.

Instagram had previously introduced public 'Live Broadcasts' in 2016, but the new "Close Friends on Live" feature aims to encourage more people to try out live videos by making them less public and catering to those who don't want to broadcast everything publicly.

South Korean singer-songwriter and actor Seo In Guk engaged with his followers on Instagram during a live session dedicated to K-pop songs and groups, mentioning BTS and Stray Kids as groups he listens to and showcasing his vocal prowess by mimicking Filix's voice from Stray Kids.

Sources: TechCrunch, CNET, Indian Express, Yahoo News, The Verge, ReadWrite, IndiaTV News, Hindi News24 Online, TechTimes, INKL, NewsBytes, Analytics Insight, Sunday World, Pinkvilla, Inquirer, FanBuzz, HotNewHipHop.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Instagram is testing a new ad format called 'ad breaks' that displays unskippable ads while users scroll through their feed, causing surprise and negative reactions among social media users.

The ad breaks feature a countdown timer, pausing users' feed scrolling until the ad finishes playing, and users cannot see the next post until they finish watching the ad.

Meta, Instagram's parent company, confirmed the ad tests and stated that the goal is to create value for advertisers, but did not provide specific details on the test's scope or potential changes based on user feedback.

The new feature is currently only accessible to a limited number of users in specific regions, and Instagram has not confirmed a wider release timeline, but users have expressed dissatisfaction and criticized the changes.

The reaction to Instagram's unskippable ads has been mostly negative, with users expressing disapproval, and the test's specific locations or global reach have not been disclosed.

Instagram has confirmed the trial and stated that updates will follow if this test leads to formal product changes, as the company has faced backlash before for excessive ads and has had to address the issue and modify the user experience.

The introduction of ad breaks could potentially increase Meta's advertising revenue on Instagram, but the format focused on quick content consumption may make these ads more intrusive to users, leading to frustration and negativity expressed on social media, and potentially driving users to seek ad-free alternatives.

Meta is testing formats to drive value for advertisers, and Instagram provides a message explaining ad breaks as a new way to view ads on the platform.

Sources: Gizmodo, The Verge, Mashable, 9to5mac.com, Read/Write, gizmochina.com, gigazine.net, itechpost.com, techgindia.com, rappler.com

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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Meta Platforms on Wednesday launched a direct challenge to Twitter with Threads, garnering millions of users in hours as it sought to take advantage of its rival's much-weakened state after a series of chaotic decisions from owner Elon Musk.

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Those quick to join the new platform included celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez as well as prominent politicians such as Democratic US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

"Let's do this. Welcome to Threads," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in his first post on the app, along with a fire emoji. He said the app logged 10 million sign-ups in seven hours.

He also took to Twitter, posting a well-known meme of Spiderman facing off against Spiderman - in a humorous jab at the rivalry with Musk and between the two services.

Analysts have said Threads' ties to Instagram might give it a built-in user base and advertising apparatus. That could siphon ad dollars from Twitter at a time when its new CEO is trying to revive its struggling business.

While Threads launched as a standalone app, users can log in using their Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts, potentially making it an easy addition to existing habits for Instagram's more than 2 billion monthly active users.

"Investors can't help but be a little excited about the prospect that Meta really has a 'Twitter-Killer'," said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at investment firm AJ Bell.

Much like Twitter, the app features short text posts that users can like, re-post, and reply to, although it does not include any direct message capabilities. Posts can be up to 500 characters long and include links, photos, and videos up to five minutes long, according to a Meta blog post.

Zuckerberg noted the challenges that big public social media forums bring. "I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn't nailed it. Hopefully, we will," he wrote.

The integration with Instagram included several nods to privacy considerations. Instagram users who sign up for Threads automatically have a badge affixed to their Instagram profile, but can opt to hide it. They also are given options to choose different privacy settings for each app.

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Well-known actors expressed support on Thursday for British actress Emma Watson's recent pro-Palestinian Instagram post.

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In a joint statement by the Artists for Palestine UK group, signatories – who include actors Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon – said, "We join Emma Watson in … meaningful solidarity with Palestinians struggling for their human rights under international law. We recognize the underlying power imbalance between Israel, the occupying power, and the Palestinians, the people under a system of military occupation and apartheid."

"We stand against ongoing Israeli attempts to forcibly displace Palestinian families from their homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan and elsewhere in the occupied Palestinian territory," said the signatories, who also include Mexican actor Gael García Bernal, American film director Jim Jarmusch, Scottish actor Peter Capaldi, English actress Maxine Peake, American actor Viggo Mortensen, English actor Steve Coogan, English actor Charles Dance and British actress Harriet Walter.

On Jan. 3, Watson shared on Instagram an earlier post by the badactivistcollective channel which posted a photo of the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine protest that took place on May 12, 2021, with the words "Solidarity is a verb" on top.

The caption quoted Sarah Ahmed, a prominent feminist scholar, "Solidarity does not assume that our struggles are the same struggles, or that our pain is the same pain, or that our hope is for the same future. Solidarity involves commitment, and work, as well as the recognition that even if we do not have the same feelings, or the same lives, or the same bodies, we do live on common ground."

The move garnered criticism from Israel, who claimed the Palestinians were indeed oppressed but not by Israel, but the Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

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Israeli actress, producer, and star of the "Wonder Woman" franchise Gal Gadot has reached 72 million followers on the Instagram social media platform.

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Not only is this an eye-raising number in and of itself, it also means that Gadot (@gal_gadot) now has more followers than supermodel and pro-Palestinian sympathizer Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid).

A few weeks ago, Israel Hayom reported that Gadot, who at the time had approximately 70 million followers, was breathing down Hadid's neck.

The news comes shortly after the report that Gadot has been picked to play the role Grace Kelly made famous in a reprisal of the 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film "To Catch a Thief."

As of Sunday, Gadot was also doing well on other social media platforms, with 3.2 million followers on TikTok and 3 million followers on Twitter.

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Twitter has started testing a new feature that will allow two users to write and edit tweets together, the Israeli media startup Watchful reports.

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Watchful analyzes and reports user experiences on popular websites and apps.

According to the startup, the feature is already in use – under the radar – by certain users in the US. Watchful expects the feature to be officially launched for global use.

Meanwhile, Instagram recently integrated a similar feature that allows different users to collaborate on a single post they intend to post. Friends can coordinate what images and content they want to post from their last meeting, and will be able to share the likes and comments the post garners. The feature can reportedly also be used by companies that are collaborating on projects.

Tania Oleinik, a research analyst at Watchful, explains that "For a year, we have seen the trend expand and become an inseparable part of social media. The social media world is so competitive that no company can allow itself to stay behind when it comes to digital capabilities and innovation."

"Just like we got used to working together on Google docs, cooperative editing of posts and co-creation of content will become part of our digital behavior," Oleinik adds.

Watchful, which provides analysis of digital experiences worldwide, was founded three years ago by CEO Itay Kahana and CTO Yoav Gaziel and thus far as raised $12 million from Israeli and foreign investors.

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